Correlation of Total Phenolic, Flavonoid and Carotenoid Content of Sesbania sesban (L. Merr) Leaves Extract with DPPH Scavenging Activties

Abstract

Antioxidants are found in many plants and can neutralize free radicals. Sesbania sesban (L.)Merr is a plant that has been used empirically by Indonesian people and its proven have many pharmacologycal activity. The objectives of this research were to study antioxidant activity Sesbania sesban leaves extract using DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) method and correlation with its total phenolic, flavonoid and carotenoid content. Extraction was performed by reflux using different polarity solvent. The extracts were vaporated using rotary evaporator. Antioxidant activity was tested using DPPH assay. Determination of total phenolic, flavonoid and carotenoid content were performed by UV-visible spectrophotometry and its correlation with inhibitory concentration 50 (IC50) DPPH scavenging activity were analyzed by Pearson’s method. Nhexane, ethyl acetate and ethanol extracts of Sesbania sesban leaves had IC50 DPPH  50 g/ml and it can be classified as very strong antioxidant. Ethanol extract of Sesbania sesban had the highest of total phenolic content (5.18 g GAE/100 g) and highest total flavonoid content (4.56 g QE/100 g), while the highest total carotenoid content (4.56 g BE/100 g) was given by n-hexane extract. Total phenolic content in Sesbania sesban leaves extracts had significant and negative correlation with their IC50 DPPH scavenging activities. Phenolic compounds in Sesbania sesban leaves extracts were contributor major in its antioxidant activities by DPPH method.